Despite major delays brought on by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Russia has reiterated its commitment to deliver the remaining two squadrons of the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems to India by 2026–2027.
On the sidelines of the SCO defense ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov held a bilateral meeting during which Singh gave this assurance.
All five squadrons were supposed to be delivered by the end of 2023, according to the terms of the initial $5.43 billion (₹40,000 crore) contract, which was signed in 2018. However, logistical and geopolitical issues have caused the timeline to be delayed.
Two missile batteries make up each S-400 squadron, which has a total of 128 missiles with interception ranges of 120, 200, 250, and 380 kilometers. Rapid deployment and high mobility are made possible by the system’s all-terrain transporter-erector vehicles and sophisticated long-range acquisition and engagement radars.
Strategic bombers, fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles are just a few of the aerial threats that the S-400 is known for detecting and eliminating at altitudes of up to 30 km and ranges of up to 380–400 km. Additionally, it has multi-target tracking, which allows it to track up to 100 targets at once and engage 36 at a time.
In order to combat possible threats from China and Pakistan, India has already stationed the first three S-400 squadrons in its northeast and northwest. Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May 2025 was a notable example of the S-400’s operational efficacy; during a time of increased military escalation, the system was instrumental in intercepting and eliminating hostile drones and missiles.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Adampur airbase in public to highlight the system’s resilience and ongoing operational status, despite Pakistan’s claims that it destroyed an S-400 battery there, which turned out to be part of its propaganda campaign.
According to Indian and Russian sources, the fourth and fifth squadrons are now expected to arrive in 2026 and 2027, respectively. With their complete integration into the Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), the S-400 batteries serve as the outermost layer of India’s integrated air defense system, offering a strong defense against a variety of aerial threats.
At the same time, Project Kusha, an indigenous air defense system with a 350 km planned interception range, is being developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). At a cost of ₹21,700 crore, the defense ministry authorized the purchase of five squadrons of this system for the Indian Air Force, with an operational deployment date of 2028–2029.
In conclusion, the S-400 Triumf remains a key component of India’s air defense strategy, and by 2026–2027, the country’s ability to protect its airspace from changing threats is anticipated to be greatly improved by the addition of the final two squadrons.
